English
English version: Explaining its meaning, such as practicing according to what is said in the scripture, such a person will be protected and念 by all the Buddhas; if someone makes offerings to such a person, it should be known that this is making offerings to the Buddha; if someone writes and upholds this scripture, it should be known that the Tathagata (Tathāgata, Thus Come One) is in their dwelling; if one hears this scripture and rejoices, that person has obtained the wisdom of enlightenment; if one can believe and understand this scripture, even just a four-line verse, and explain it to others, it should be known that this person has already been predicted to attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, unsurpassed, complete and perfect enlightenment).' 'Vimalakirti Sutra, Chapter 13: Dharma Offering' At that time, Śakro devānām indraḥ (Śakro devānām indraḥ, Indra, Lord of the Devas) said to the Buddha in the assembly: 'World Honored One! Although I have heard hundreds of thousands of sutras from the Buddha and Mañjuśrī (Mañjuśrī, Bodhisattva of Wisdom), I have never heard of such an inconceivable, self-mastering, supernormal, definitive, and real aspect scripture. According to my understanding of the meaning of what the Buddha said, if there are sentient beings who hear this scripture, believe, understand, accept, uphold, read, and recite it, they will surely obtain the benefits of this Dharma without doubt, let alone practice according to what is said? Such a person can close the doors to all evil realms and open the doors to all good realms, and will always be protected and念 by all the Buddhas; subdue external teachings, destroy the hatred of demons; cultivate bodhi (bodhi, enlightenment), abide in the bodhi-mandala (bodhi-mandala, place of enlightenment); and follow the path walked by the Tathagatas (Tathāgata, Thus Come One). World Honored One! If there are those who uphold, read, recite, and practice according to what is said, I will, together with my retinue, make offerings and serve them; wherever there is a village, city, mountain forest, or wilderness where this scripture is, I will also, together with my retinue, go there to listen to the Dharma; for those who do not yet believe, I will cause them to generate faith; for those who already believe, I will provide protection.' The Buddha said: 'Excellent, excellent! Devendra (Devendra, King of the Gods)! As you have said, I rejoice in your joy. This scripture extensively expounds the inconceivable anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, unsurpassed, complete and perfect enlightenment) of the Buddhas of the past, future, and present. Therefore, Devendra (Devendra, King of the Gods)! If good men and good women uphold, read, recite, and make offerings to this scripture, they are making offerings to the Buddhas of the past, future, and present. 'Devendra (Devendra, King of the Gods)! Even if the three thousand great thousand worlds are filled with Tathagatas (Tathāgata, Thus Come One), as densely as sugarcane, bamboo groves, rice paddies, and hemp forests; if there are good men and good women, either for one kalpa (kalpa, an extremely long period of time), or... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
减一劫，恭敬尊重，赞叹供养，奉诸所安，至诸佛灭后，以一一全身舍利起七宝塔，纵广一四天下，高至梵天，表刹庄严；以一切华香、璎珞、幢幡、伎乐微妙第一，若一劫、若减一劫，而供养之。于天帝意云何，其人植福，宁为多不？” 释提桓因言：“多矣，世尊！彼之福德，若以百千亿劫，说不能尽。” 佛告天帝：“当知是善男子、善女人，闻是不可思议解脱经典，信解受持，读诵修行，福多于彼。所以者何？诸佛菩提皆从是生；菩提之相不可限量，以是因缘福不可量。” 佛告天帝：“过去无量阿僧祇劫，时世有佛，号曰药王如来、应供、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世间解、无上士、调御丈夫、天人师、佛、世尊。世界名大庄严，劫曰庄严，佛寿二十小劫；其声闻僧三十六亿那由他；菩萨僧有十二亿。天帝！是时有转轮圣王，名曰宝盖，七宝具足，主四天下。王有千子，端正勇健，能伏怨敌。 “尔时宝盖与其眷属供养药王如来，施诸所安，至满五劫。过五劫已，告其千子：‘汝等亦当如我，以深心供养于佛。’于是千子受父王命，供养药王如来，复满五劫，一切施安。其王一子，名曰月盖，独坐思惟：‘宁有供养殊过此者？’以佛神力，空中有天曰：‘善男子！法之供养胜诸供养 现代汉语译本 减损一劫的时间，以恭敬尊重的心，赞叹和供养诸佛，奉献他们所需要的一切安乐，乃至诸佛灭度之后，用每一尊佛的全身舍利建造七宝塔，塔的纵广相当于一个四天下（须弥山为中心的四大部洲），高度直达梵天，用各种表刹来庄严宝塔；用一切最美好的鲜花、香、璎珞、幢幡、伎乐来供养，持续一劫或者减损一劫的时间。天帝（释提桓因）啊，你认为这个人所种的福德，难道不多吗？’ 释提桓因回答说：‘非常多啊，世尊！他的福德，即使用百千亿劫的时间来说也说不完。’ 佛告诉天帝：‘应当知道，这些善男子、善女人，听闻这部不可思议解脱的经典，相信、理解、接受、奉持，读诵和修行，所获得的福德比那个人还要多。为什么呢？因为诸佛的菩提（觉悟）都是从此经典中产生的；菩提的体相是不可**的，因为这个因缘，所以福德也是不可计量的。’ 佛告诉天帝：‘过去无量阿僧祇劫（极长的时间单位）之前，当时世间有一尊佛，名号是药王如来（能医治众生心病之佛）、应供（应受人天供养）、正遍知（真正普遍知道一切法）、明行足（智慧和德行都圆满）、善逝（以善妙之法而逝）、世间解（了解世间一切事理）、无上士（没有比他更高超的人）、调御丈夫（能调伏控制众生之人）、天人师（天人和人类的导师）、佛（觉悟者）、世尊（世间最尊贵的人）。世界名叫大庄严，劫名叫庄严，佛的寿命有二十小劫；他的声闻僧有三十六亿那由他（极大的数字单位）；菩萨僧有十二亿。天帝啊！当时有一位转轮圣王（统治世界的理想君王），名叫宝盖，拥有七宝（统治世界的七种宝物），统治着四大部洲。国王有一千个儿子，都端正勇健，能够降伏怨敌。 ‘当时宝盖国王和他的眷属供养药王如来，布施他们所需要的一切安乐，持续了五个劫。过了五个劫之后，国王告诉他的千个儿子：‘你们也应当像我一样，以深切的诚心供养佛。’于是这一千个儿子接受父王的命令，供养药王如来，又满了五个劫，一切都布施安乐。国王的一个儿子，名叫月盖，独自静坐思惟：‘难道还有比这更殊胜的供养吗？’凭借佛的神力，天空中有一位天人说：‘善男子！法的供养胜过一切供养。’
English
English version For one kalpa (an extremely long period of time), with reverence and respect, praising and making offerings, dedicating all that is peaceful, even after the Buddhas have passed away, using the complete relics of each Buddha to erect seven-jeweled stupas, their breadth and width equivalent to one four-world system (the four continents centered around Mount Sumeru), their height reaching the Brahma heavens, adorning the stupas with various banners; using all the most exquisite flowers, incense, necklaces, banners, musical instruments, for one kalpa or less, making offerings. What do you think, Heavenly Lord (Shakra Devanam Indra), is the merit planted by this person not great?' Shakra Devanam Indra replied: 'It is exceedingly great, World-Honored One! The merit of that person cannot be fully described even in hundreds of thousands of billions of kalpas.' The Buddha told the Heavenly Lord: 'You should know that these good men and good women, hearing this inconceivable liberation sutra, believing, understanding, accepting, upholding, reciting, and practicing it, their merit is greater than that person's. Why? Because the Bodhi (enlightenment) of all Buddhas arises from this sutra; the form of Bodhi is immeasurable, and for this reason, the merit is also immeasurable.' The Buddha told the Heavenly Lord: 'In the past, immeasurable asamkhya kalpas (incalculable eons) ago, there was a Buddha in the world named Bhaisajyaraja Tathagata (the Thus Come One, King of Medicine), Arhat (Worthy of Offerings), Samyaksambuddha (Perfectly Enlightened One), Vidyacarana-sampanna (Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct), Sugata (Well-Gone), Lokavid (Knower of the World), Anuttara (Unsurpassed), Purusadamyasarathi (Tamer of Men), Sasta Devamanusyanam (Teacher of Gods and Humans), Buddha (Enlightened One), Bhagavan (World-Honored One). The world was named Great Adornment, the kalpa was named Adornment, and the Buddha's lifespan was twenty small kalpas; his assembly of Shravakas (Voice-Hearers) numbered thirty-six billion nayutas (large numbers); the assembly of Bodhisattvas numbered twelve billion. Heavenly Lord! At that time, there was a Chakravartin King (Wheel-Turning King), named Treasure Canopy, possessing the seven treasures (the seven treasures of a world-ruling king), ruling over the four continents. The king had a thousand sons, all handsome and brave, capable of subduing enemies.' 'At that time, King Treasure Canopy and his retinue made offerings to Bhaisajyaraja Tathagata, bestowing all that was peaceful, for five kalpas. After five kalpas, the king told his thousand sons: 'You should also be like me, with deep sincerity, making offerings to the Buddha.' Thereupon, the thousand sons received their father's command, making offerings to Bhaisajyaraja Tathagata, for another five kalpas, bestowing all peace. One of the king's sons, named Moon Canopy, sat alone contemplating: 'Could there be an offering more supreme than this?' By the Buddha's spiritual power, a Deva (heavenly being) in the sky said: 'Good man! The offering of Dharma surpasses all offerings.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
。’即问：‘何谓法之供养？’天曰：‘汝可往问药王如来，当广为汝说法之供养。’ “即时月盖王子行诣药王如来，稽首佛足，却住一面，白佛言：‘世尊！诸供养中，法供养胜。云何为法供养？’佛言：‘善男子！法供养者，诸佛所说深经，一切世间难信难受，微妙难见，清净无染，非但分别思惟之所能得。菩萨法藏所摄，陀罗尼印印之。至不退转，成就六度，善分别义，顺菩提法，众经之上。入大慈悲，离众魔事，及诸邪见。顺因缘法，无我，无人，无众生，无寿命，空、无相、无作、无起。能令众生坐于道场，而转法轮，诸天、龙神、乾闼婆等，所共叹誉。能令众生入佛法藏，摄诸贤圣一切智慧。说众菩萨所行之道，依于诸法实相之义。明宣无常、苦、空、无我、寂灭之法，能救一切毁禁众生；诸魔外道及贪著者，能使怖畏；诸佛贤圣所共称叹。背生死苦，示涅槃乐，十方三世诸佛所说。若闻如是等经，信解受持读诵，以方便力，为诸众生分别解说，显示分明，守护法故，是名法之供养。又于诸法如说修行，随顺十二因缘，离诸邪见，得无生忍；决定无我无有众生，而于因缘果报无违无诤，离诸我所。依于义，不依语；依于智，不依识；依了义经，不依不了义经；依于法，不依人。随顺法相，无所入 ’月盖王子随即问道：‘什么是法的供养？’天人回答说：‘你可以去问药王如来（Bhaisajyaraja Tathagata），他会为你广泛地讲述法的供养。’ 当时，月盖王子前往药王如来处，顶礼佛足，退到一旁站立，对佛说：‘世尊！在各种供养中，法供养最为殊胜。什么是法供养呢？’佛说：‘善男子！法供养是指诸佛所说的甚深经典，一切世间难以置信和接受，微妙难以见到，清净没有污染，不是仅仅通过分别思惟就能得到的。是菩萨法藏所摄持，用陀罗尼（dharani）印章印证的。达到不退转的境界，成就六度（paramita），善于分别义理，顺应菩提之法，超越一切经典。进入大慈大悲，远离各种魔事和各种邪见。顺应因缘之法，无我，无人，无众生，无寿命，空、无相、无作、无起。能使众生坐在道场，而转法轮，诸天、龙神、乾闼婆（Gandharva）等，共同赞叹称誉。能使众生进入佛法宝藏，摄取诸位贤圣的一切智慧。宣说众菩萨所修行的道路，依据诸法实相的意义。明白宣扬无常、苦、空、无我、寂灭之法，能救度一切毁犯戒律的众生；对于各种魔、外道以及贪恋执着的人，能使他们感到恐惧畏惧；是诸佛贤圣共同称赞的。背离生死之苦，展示涅槃之乐，是十方三世诸佛所说的。如果听闻这些经典，信解受持读诵，用方便之力，为众生分别解说，显示分明，守护佛法，这就是所谓的法供养。又对于诸法如所说的那样修行，随顺十二因缘，远离各种邪见，得到无生法忍；确信没有我，没有众生，但在因缘果报上没有违背和争论，远离各种我所。依于义理，不依于言语；依于智慧，不依于意识；依于了义经，不依于不了义经；依于法，不依于人。随顺法相，无所入处。